The fallout over Shane Watson’s Test suspension took another twist after Cricket Australia’s high-performance chief Pat Howard claimed the vice-captain was a team player “sometimes”.
Howard said on Tuesday Watson’s suspension is a warning to the two-time Allan Border Medallist that he can’t play “under his own conditions”.
While not attempting to downplay tensions between skipper Michael Clarke and his deputy, Howard left the door open for Watson’s Test return. However the 31-year-old must start toeing the team line.
Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were ruled ineligible for Australia’s third Test in India starting on Thursday after failing to complete a task set for the team, now affectionately known as “homework-gate”.
Howard said it was the last straw after a series of disciplinary breaches by Australian players.
He said the four banned players were not repeat offenders. But he didn’t do Watson any favours when asked if the vice-captain was a team player.
“I know Shane reasonably well,” Howard told reporters in Brisbane.
“He acts in the best interests of the team sometimes.
“But there are failings in the system in that we are not getting the best out of Shane. That’s our fault.”
Watson, who has struggled with the bat in the India series and isn’t bowling because of injury problems, is contemplating his future after flying home from the Test tour to be with his pregnant wife.
There’s confusion over whether he’ll return for the fourth Test in Delhi on March 22. But Howard said he was not worried about Watson’s future just yet.
“I have left a message with his agent,” Howard said.
“But I think it is clear that … there are standards for the team regardless of who the person is.”
Clarke, coach Mickey Arthur and team manager Gavin Dovey made the joint decision to ban the four players after Arthur had set the homework assignment.
“They have normal difficulties that anybody has in a relationship,” Howard said.
“The captain and the vice-captain have to sort their issues out.
“If Michael wants to raise it as a greater issue he can come forward.”
Howard said CA officials were not sweeping the team-discipline issue under the carpet.
“If this happened in the middle of the Ashes it would have been catastrophic but we are trying to address it,” he said.
Watson described his penalty as harsh and he has received support from ex-players.
Howard says he can understand how the suspensions could polarise people.
“We are winning when we are expected to win and we are losing when we are expected to lose. We need higher standards,” Howard said.
Clarke says he’ll be doing everything he can to get Watson back for the Delhi Test, if things go to plan regarding Watson’s wife Lee giving birth this week.
“I don’t think it will have any impact on my friendship with the four guys because I know I’ve got the respect of those guys and they know how much I respect them,” Clarke said.